Extinction Rebellion activists have padlocked themselves to the Scottish Parliament building and sent the keys to John Swinney.
Two eco demonstrators carried out the stunt in protest against plans for a second gas power station in Peterhead. Three activists tried to attach themselves to the outer Holyrood building using bike D-locks, with one prevented by police.
Keys to unlock the protesters were sent to the offices of First Minister Swinney, Acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin and Climate Action Minister Alasdair Allan with letters asking them to bring the keys personally to free each activist. Extinction Rebellion (XR) Scotland said it believes the trio of SNP MSPs will ultimately decide whether the controversial new gas plant in Aberdeenshire will go ahead.
The scheme planned by Equinor and SSE would harness carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to offset emissions – but campaigners insist the tech is unproven at scale. There is already a large gas power station at Peterhead considered to be Scotland’s biggest polluter.
The chained-up activists have a banner that reads ‘Stop Carbon Capture Scam’, and hold placards that read ‘Scotland’s Biggest Climate Polluter – Peterhead Gas’, and ‘Don’t Lock Scotland into Fossil Fuels’. XR Scotland cites analysis by expert group Carbon Tracker which estimates climate pollution generated by the proposed new gas power plant could be five times worse than the developers have admitted.
Community organiser John Hardy, 41, speaking for XR Scotland, said: “Our protest at the Scottish Parliament is about calling for meaningful action against the climate crisis. CCS is not the solution it’s made out to be; it is a lifeline for oil and gas companies who wish to continue extracting fossil fuels while cloaking themselves in the illusion of environmental responsibility.
“We cannot allow our future to be dictated by ‘magical’ technological fixes that merely prolong the fossil fuel era and distract from the urgent need for a rapid and just transition to renewable energy. We demand real solutions, not empty promises. Our lives depend on it.”
Gary Jack, also of XR Scotland, added: “If saving the planet is not a good reason for rejecting the application, economic logic certainly is. Tying Scotland to a further 25 years plus of imported gas gives us no energy security and leaves us open to further inflated international gas prices.
“Scotland already produces vast amounts of renewable electricity and will be doubling or trebling that over the next decade. So why would you invest in imported gas infrastructure?”
Climate campaigners protested outside SSE’s headquarters in Perth in May about the firm’s plans. SSE’s current 1190 megawatt (MW) gas power station at Peterhead has been Scotland’s biggest polluter for the last five years, data suggests.
The proposal for a second 910MW gas-burning power station and carbon capture plant at the Peterhead site is now with Scottish ministers for approval.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.